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This machaneh looks at Cultural Judaism, and analysing the history of the Jewish culture and people as well as analysing what they can do to make Judaism more meaningful to themselves. Throughout machaneh they will enjoy different fun, yet educational peulot (activities) around this interesting theme.
Click here to see photo's of Nemerim 2008
Tuesday 12th August: Mainsite (Day 12)
Dear parents and all friends of habonim-dror,
We are writing to you to let you know the latest in the Nemerim camp.
Firstly, I want to assure you all are fine and having great fun! As you know, during the last few days, the weather has not been fantastic, despite this their spirits are higher than ever, yesterday they loved the day out & today have been really enjoying the peulot planned by their leaders.
I am writing to you to put your minds at ease, even if at times you get the impression the place wet, (which it has been), it is important to say that everyone is being kept as dry as possible, and constantly encouraged to be indoors, and to hand their laundry to the madrichim (leaders) so that they can get them dried.
Today, they had an Ice lolly party in celebration of the sunny weather, things are looking up!
Our madrichim, along with the rakazim(organizers), are doing the best they can;
Every day twice a day there is a weather assessment between the heads of camp and the London offices; every day twice a day all tents are being checked for leaks and are put straight if needed; every day all leaders are being informed about current situation and reminded to keep an eye on all kids and their clothes, so that they can take them to be dried when needed.
& Every few days, one of the Movement Workers from one of the offices has actually visited the camp to give an external assessment. Aimee, camps organizer is there now & will be there until tomorrow.
Habonim-Dror has been running Summer Camps for almost 80 years now. In that time, we have experienced many weather conditions, ranging from the beautiful sunny skies, to the shocking torrential rain (you will recall better then me), it would seem that this year Nemerim has experienced most of these weather conditions over the course of 11days! Our number one priority is safty and security and we will not compromise on that. If we decide the situation becomes unbearable, all kids will be moved indoors to a very big hall. We think we are not there yet.
We are being constantly surprised by the amazing spirits shown by your kids, as despite the conditions, they have been all pulling together & this will be a Nemerim Never to Forget!
Please if you have any questions or comments don’t hesitate and call us at the London or Manchester office, or if you need in case of emergency you do have the emergency contacts too.
Thanks again for your continuous support and we are sure you will hear nothing but great stories about camp and a special wet experience
Thanks
Yahal, as part of the Habonim-Dror UK team.
Monday 11th August: Mainsite (Day 11)
Today started as camp days usually do with Mifkad the morning.
This is when the whole camp gets together in their small tiyul groups (or kvutsot) to sing their songs & say good morning in their special way to the rest of the machaneh!
The first activity explored what makes a good person, and what makes a good Jew.
Two worlds were created, in one of the worlds, everyone lived according to social guidelines, respecting each other & living in harmony. In the other world there were no rules, when the kids came out of this world, they were covered in water & mud, looking like they’d been through a war zone!
The second activity of the day was about the genocide in Darfur.
They began by watching a film made by aegis in two small groups.
The main part of the peula (activity) was a court case which took the form of an international tribunal. The defendants were China, Britain & the UN (represented by our extravagantly dressed madrichim) In groups, the chanichim planned their questions for each of the defendants & showed their true colours when it came to the actual trial. They really got into this & actually produced a political debate!
The Judge announced the verdict………..All defendants were found, Not Guilty!
To end the activity off, everyone pledged their support for the people of Darfur by making a hand-print as a patch for their part of what we hope to be a record breaking patchwork quilt.
Tu Bishvat was the theme of the fun hippy festival today, each stall was in some way a celebration of nature. A massive game of Global warming snakes & ladders , Make your own clothes out of natural fabric & hippy headbands were amongst the stalls of the fair.
Dinner was a feast of pasta bake & ice cream for desert,
This evening was a moving activity for Tisha B’Av & also acted as a Sikkum or round-up of the full day.
The madrichim sat in corners of the dark run lit by only a spotlight & one by one, recited their monologues. They represented events such as the 1948 war of Independence & the Spanish Inquisition, then in groups the chanichim discussed the different events, shared their thoughts & feelings & made up their own poems,
Then everyone got together for a big tekkes (ceremony) to recite the poems, sing songs, ending with the movement song Od Lo Gamarnu & The Hatikva.
Saturday 9th August: Mainsite (Day 9)
No update today as it is shabbat!
Hope you have a great, restful and meaningful day!
Shabbat Shalom!
Friday 8th August: Mainsite (Day 8)
Hi
So yesterday was a day full of fun in our little camp site in Wales, looking over the view of a fabulous hilly area of the country side. The weather was improving slightly, and the mud is now drying slowly. This same mud was used for fun purposes when yesterday, the Israel at 60 road show moving camp came to visit. First thing I the morning they had a massive IDF style training with lots of though Israeli “commanders”. The challenge was good and every one got to exercise a bit and to get a bit muddy (only a bit!). a rope course was too part of the challenge but all together the lesson of the IDf was learned – if you just want enough – you can do it! the first educational peulah was all about Israeli politics, where the kids had to learn about the different parties in Israel and then run a campaign to all other participants. After a great Israeli lunch the all went on to learn about modern Israel in terms of technology and Hi-tech. one theme that was vey popular was Israel and space, where all studied about Ilan Ramon the first ever Israeli astronaut who never came back to earth. The very last activity of that day was a massive auction in where different kids where representatives of different sects of Israeli society, demonstrating few challenges. That great day ended with an unforgettable shiron (sing songs around the camp fire).
Today was a beautiful day with sunshine and happiness. After the morning mifkad all had a massive ceremony to thank the Israel at 60 tzevet and went on cleaning. After lunch they will have a peulah in a survival show kind of way. All will learn about the meaning of working in a group and how to create the right spirit! Later a preparation for Shabbat peulah will take on with all exploring the meaning of Shabbat for them and for all.
We again apologize for not being able to put on the web-site photos of Nemerim. We do have more then 100 photos, only our web site administrator is now away, and we are trying hard to solve many technical issues with out him.
Shabbat shalom and please read another update on Sunday!
Thursday 7th August: Mainsite (Day 7)
Today the Israel 60 roadshow tsevet ran fun and creative activities around the theme of modern day Israel.
The chanichim where set a task to help the prime minister of Israel learn more about certain aspects of Israel. The morning saw them discover the political parties and the Israeli's obsession with "bumper stickers" on their cars. After they played "soldiers" in a activity about the IDF. They then visited an auction house played a game about Israel's economy. Israeli Dancing was taught just before dinner to work up an appitite. The final activity of the day saw them learn all about the amazing technological advancements Israel has provided to the world. They even did some of their very own experiements.
Wednesday 6th August: Mainsite (Day 6)
This morning, started with a peula on self reflection relating to Rosh Hashannah + Yom Kippur.
The style of the activity was a harrogate fair, they started alltogether doing a group meditation, then blindfolded the groups went off one by one, as they were going around the fair characters would come & talk to them who acted as their 'consciences', at different points throughout the fair they would take their blindfolds off, and do activities, such as coming accross a big thing of water to throw away sins in, at another stop they wrote things they want to change about their lives on a tag, which they then hung around their necks to take away with them.
after lunch, they had a big game of UCC (Ultimate Catching Championship),
This evening they will do a Joseph themed (Musical!) Murder Mystery, sounds brilliant- just glad they haven't asked me to sing!
They will also do a peula on hospitatlity, looking at examples of hospitality as they travel through time such as abraham's tent. At the end of that activity they will make welcome signs for the Roadshow ISrael 60th Tsevet, & prepare for their arrival. They will arrive tonight, have dinner & get to know them tonight & run activities on Israel for them tomorrow.
Tuesday 5th August: Tiyul (Day5)
"I don't want tiyul to end" were the cries. "We've had so much fun!" So last night was the last night of tiyul and how the tiyul groups made the most of it. They all rehearsed their kvusah song so they could show off to the other kvusot that they were the best and loudest and boy are they loud! Last night one group wrote letters to everyone in the group and they all read them aloud round the bonfire....ahh cute.
This morning everybody was awoken by the british weather of showers and more showers. Although this did not stop the excitement of MAIN SITE. Everybody was very quick to pack up their bags and tents so they could get to main site and be reunited with everyone. One last lunch was had in separate tiyul groups and the village of abergavenney has never heard such ruach(spirit.) People even came out of their houses to see what all the noise was all about!!
This afternoon everybody met up at main site and oh what a noise!!! Everybody was screaming and shouting about being reunited with everyone and soon everyone got to work with setting up their bedrooms for the next 10days and when I say bedrooms, I mean tents! Tonight plan is ‘Introduction to Machaneh’-this is where all the chanichim are introduced to the leaders followed by the very important rules session by the roshim and organisers!! Then it’s the first Machaneh dinner and then an evening activity. All in all everybody is in high spirits and cannot WAIT for main site to start.
Sunday 3rd August: Tiyul (Day 3)
I’m happy to report that everybody has had a lovely Shabbat. Yesterday 2 groups went swimming and no not in rain water! Speaking of the weather it has been very on and off-typical British summertime-although this hasn’t stopped your kids from having a great time! One group decided that wanted to pool all their kibbud/goodies together so that everyone can have….ahh sweet. One kvusah started to play a game whereby you get points for doing silly things but you have to ask the madrichim if it is ok to do that silly thing and if they don’t ask then they lose points. The game has gone down a treat and the kvusah is enjoying the silliness. Tonight one kvusah is making quorn fajitas followed by a sing song round the camp fire. Another kuvsah has managed to strike a deal with a local restaurant to give them a discounted deal for a vegetarian main meal. It looks like we have some young entrepreneurs. All in all everybody is having a swell time.
Saturday 2nd August: Tiyul (Day 2)
No update today as it is shabbat!
Hope you have a great, restful and meaningful day!
Shabbat Shalom!
Friday 1st August: Tiyul (Day 1)
Hooray! After a long journey I am happy to say that everyone arrived happy and safely.
2 coaches, 55 chanichim and 20 leaders arrived in beautiful Abergavenny at 5pm. They were split into 5 tiyul groups and everybody immediately went straight to the supermarket to buy dinner and breakfast. Everybody was in high spirits and loving being in a group with new people and get to know each other. As they walked to their campsite for the night they sang songs, played getting to know you games (the game bang was a great hit) and generally enjoying the outdoors. As they arrived at their campsite, the whole kvutsa helped to put up a tent and started on making dinner. Tonights dinner was cooked by your very own children and went down a treat! Everybody is having a great time and excited about having their first tent experience and sleeping under the starts-the torches are ready!!! Shabbat Shalom. xx
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